Step towards a circular economy – EUbusiness Week newsletter 727

Publisher’s Note

With the average European consuming 14 tonnes of raw materials and generating five tonnes of waste a year, the European Commission this week set out new proposals for a ‘circular economy’ which have the potential to fundamentally change the way we live and do business.

A circular economy uses resources in a smarter, more sustainable way, where the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible and use of waste and resource is minimised. Potential benefits include 2 million new jobs, large savings for European industry and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. But are we prepared for such a profound transformation of the way our economy works?
More …

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

1. EU, Internet giants join forces to fight online extremism

The European Union on Thursday launched a forum bringing together Internet firms like Google, Facebook and Twitter as well as law enforcement agencies to combat online extremism.
More …
EU plans to criminalise terrorist ‘preparatory acts’

2. EU probes McDonald’s tax affairs as crackdown widens

The EU has launched a probe into tax deals between US fast food giant McDonald’s and Luxembourg, as it widens an investigation into tax avoidance by major multinationals that includes Amazon and Apple.
More …
Netherlands to appeal EU demand for Starbucks back taxes

3. Ukraine ‘open to talks’ with Russia over EU trade deal

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says Kiev is open to last-minute talks aimed at overcoming fierce Russian opposition to a free trade accord between his country and the EU.
More …
EU, Vietnam sign free trade deal

4. ‘No’ side win Danish vote on EU justice rules

Voters in eurosceptic EU member Denmark on Thursday rejected in a referendum a government proposal to deepen participation in the EU’s justice cooperation, exit polls and partial results showed.
More …

5. Eastern states move to keep Schengen intact

Four eastern EU Member States reject the idea of cutting the 26-member passport-free Schengen zone down to include fewer countries as a way to cope with the refugee and migrant crisis.
More …

6. EU bailout fund rescues Greece’s top bank

The eurozone’s bailout fund has rescued Greece’s largest bank, launching a recapitalisation process that is a crucial part of the country’s third loan programme in five years.
More …

EUROPEAN LAW

Facebook: Facebook on Wednesday says it will block access to its website by non-members in Belgium, as it battles a court order to stop tracking Internet users who do not have accounts with the US social media giant.
More …
Hungary files court challenge to EU migrant quotas
Court rejects appeal for detained Turkish editors
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
More …

Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Border checks: Member States will discuss Friday whether to extend internal border checks for up to two years to help many of them cope with record migrant inflows.
More …
Turkey and EU strike EUR 3 bn migrant aid deal
Cameron not expecting deal on EU membership at summit
Council …

Commission Watch

Israel: the EU vowed Monday to work for Middle East peace even though Israel suspended it from the diplomatic process over the bloc’s decision to label goods imported from Jewish settlements.
More …
EU ‘not seeking reforms’ in Cuba talks
EU aid to Burundi at stake in Tuesday talks
Commission …

Parliament Watch

US bombing: XXXXXXXX.
This week, MEPs in committee urged ministers to agree a position at last on a directive to ensure that by 2020 at least 40 per cent of non-executive directors on listed company boards are women; and endorsed an EU deal with Liechtenstein which will make it harder for EU citizens to hide cash from the tax man in bank accounts there.
More …

EU diary

7-8 Dec: Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Council
7-10 Dec: European Parliament Committee Meetings
7 Dec: Eurogroup
10 Dec: Financing the circular economy
10-11 Dec: Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary

RESOURCES

EU Law Firms
Summaries of EU Legislation
EU Decision-Making
Treaties of the European Union
Key EU Legal Terms

Other news on EUbusiness this week

‘Clear no’ in Danish vote on EU justice rules: PM 3-Dec
IMF says could decide Greece aid in January 3-Dec
EU set to extend Russia sanctions by six months 3-Dec
Tusk calls for 18-month refugee screening 2-Dec
UK Labour launches campaign to stay in EU 1-Dec
Eurozone unemployment falls in October 1-Dec
Less to Turkey-EU deal than meets the eye: analysts 30-Nov

EUbusiness Community

Jobs

Business Manager – Human Resources, Europol
Finance & Office Manager European Institutions Office, Amnesty
Regulatory Affairs Manager, Association of the European Heating Industry
Legal Officer – HR, European Stability Mechanism
More jobs …

Press

Barriers to clicking cross-border – E-commerce study
ESBA responds to the Circular Economy Package
A wasted year for the circular economy – FoEE
Business & NGOs join forces for ambitious climate agreement
More press …

Guides

Commisison investigation into Luxembourg’s tax treatment of McDonald’s
EU action to combat terrorism & illegal trafficking of firearms & explosives
Overhaul for EU prospectus rules
More guides …

Events

8 Dec, The Hague: 4th World BORDERPOL Congress
25 Jan, Copenhagen: Nordic Card Markets & Future Payment Solutions
28 Jan, Copenhagen: How to write a competitive proposal for Horizon 2020
26 Jul, Lisbon: E-Business & Telecommunications – ICETE 2016
More events …

Publications

EU Climate Policy Explained
Essential EU Climate Law
More publications …

Links

EU action plan for the Circular Economy

More links